cannabisnews.com: Take Another Look at Legalizing Marijuana
Take Another Look at Legalizing Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on March 30, 2007 at 07:18:01 PT
By Matt Love, Guest Opinion
Source: Statesman Journal
Oregon -- In his speech to open the 2007 session of the Oregon Legislature, Gov. Ted Kulongoski spoke eloquently about green things such as sustainability and dollars. Unfortunately, he didn’t discuss something else “green” that could be the answer to many, if not all, the fiscal problems in this state. I thought by now some brave legislator might have brought it up for consideration, but it hasn’t happened. So I will.Marijuana. Legalize marijuana and tax it. Shouldn’t everything be on the table this session, including raising taxes on a vastly more powerful recreational drug, say alcohol?
Thinking differently about marijuana is hardly new to Oregon. In 1971 Oregon Gov. Tom McCall read an incredible 4,500-word statement before the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse urging nothing short of a revolution in the way the country handled the so-called marijuana problem.An excerpt: “In my ... rapping with thousands of young people at the Oregon State Capitol, I encountered many delegations urging reduction or elimination of legal controls of marijuana ...”In 1973 Oregon became the first state in the nation to decriminalize marijuana, making the sentence for possession of less than an ounce akin to receiving a traffic ticket. The law became a national model. That’s the way we used to solve problems in Oregon, meaning devising solutions that other states copied.Really, the question is not whether marijuana should be legalized. The question is how it should be legalized. In the past, several ballot measures have asked Oregonians if they want to make marijuana legal. They have been fringe-led efforts and ill-conceived. They all failed because they lacked the state’s imprimatur.Thus, I call upon the Oregon Legislature and Gov. Kulongoski to adopt a new law establishing the Oregon Marijuana Legalization Commission.This body would meet this fall, study the idea and make recommendations on every aspect of legalization from potency to market or state-controlled distribution. The Commission would also be authorized to present a slate of referendums providing Oregon voters with ballot options on how marijuana is to be legalized, taxed and how the revenue will be spent. Each referendum should have a sunset provision so it can later be revisited.I know what many of you are thinking: The health risks, right? Let me offer a visual rebuttal. As I write this from an Oregon tavern, a man is halfway through a pack of cigarettes, on his third pint of ale and pumping dollars into a state sponsored video poker machine.Moreover, in the past year I have been in social situations where the following people have used or confessed use of marijuana within the past three months: doctor, nurse, teacher, professor, biologist, winemaker, journalist, editor, land use planner, lawyer, logger, farmer, fisherman, contractor, real estate agent, clergyman, speech therapist, small business owner, painter, librarian, chef, landscaper, masseuse, and of course, an elected official. Not one of these people had a medical marijuana card.Oregonians, kill the double standard. Let common sense prevail. Let the people decide. Get government off marijuana smokers’ backs and into their pockets. The potential revenue stream looks nothing less beautiful than amber, no, emerald, waves of leaves.Yeah, I know again what many of you are thinking. I don’t even use the stuff! I use other drugs, you know, the kind whose trade organization flies a state’s lawmakers to Hawaii and then pumps them full of their deadly product to assure it remains socially accepted and lightly taxed.Matt Love of Pacific City is a writer and teacher. Source: Statesman Journal (OR)Author: Matt Love, Guest OpinionPublished: March 30, 2007Copyright: 2007 Statesman JournalContact: letters statesmanjournal.comWebsite: http://www.statesmanjournal.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #46 posted by whig on April 04, 2007 at 03:43:14 PT
breathe this in
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh80jJNgRrY
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Comment #45 posted by whig on April 03, 2007 at 21:01:21 PT
museman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6YEfb1ydXU
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Comment #44 posted by FoM on April 03, 2007 at 20:09:46 PT
museman
I didn't understand it all but I did get what you are saying and it made sense from the way I look at current situations.
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Comment #43 posted by museman on April 03, 2007 at 19:12:18 PT
this thread ...
I somehow feel this appopriate. It may have been read or glanced at by some, but after reading through this thread, it just seemed connected.
ON and OFF
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Comment #42 posted by whig on April 03, 2007 at 16:25:54 PT
See the other
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2c7_1173547096
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Comment #41 posted by FoM on April 03, 2007 at 16:05:22 PT
Toker00
You're welcome and that is good news about the library. I have been quiet because I am sorting many things out that seem to be on my mind these days. I'm really off in my own little world but that's not a bad thing. I have time to connect dots and see better then I have in a long time. It will all work out I think. The times they are a changin'
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Comment #40 posted by Toker00 on April 03, 2007 at 15:57:08 PT
Thank you Brothers and Sisters.
The Truth is scarily simple.The community college, where I suggested four 9-11 Truth books be added to their library, e-mailed me today and said they had ordered three of the four books I suggested and will place them in their Library for check out immediately upon receipt. One book wasn't available. I thanked them with all my heart. Love. Thank you all. I'm gonna be quiet for a while, but I will be here reading. I'm going to try to wake people with a whisper instead of a shout. Maybe they won't wake up so startled.Toke.
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Comment #39 posted by Hope on April 03, 2007 at 09:46:25 PT
Let go. Take a breather.
Sometimes it's the only thing to do.Toker, I KNEW you wouldn't give up. We're human, though and this is an emotional, painful, dismaying situation we are up against. New Proverb or adverb or something:May the fire under your ass be rekindled soon and may you rise up quickly and be more powerful than ever.:0)
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Comment #38 posted by FoM on April 03, 2007 at 07:30:26 PT
Toker00
Bush is on the tv and I couldn't take anymore of his stumbling with words and his complaining so I turned on LWW and muted the sound of him speaking. I am playing Let's Impeach The President and it sure helps. Thank you Neil Young!
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Comment #37 posted by FoM on April 03, 2007 at 07:01:36 PT
Toker00
It's great to see you. Sometimes when we are in the wilderness of life that is when we have a light turn on and off we go again. Missions sure can take a long time.
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Comment #36 posted by Had Enough on April 03, 2007 at 05:24:32 PT
Hey Toker00
It's good to see you.
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Comment #35 posted by Toker00 on April 03, 2007 at 03:55:04 PT
Giving up is not Quitting.
Giving up is setting yourself free. Let Go. Let God. I am in a vaccum right now. It's nice, waiting for Creation to light another match under my ass. Toke.
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Comment #34 posted by Hope on April 01, 2007 at 22:17:50 PT
17
Toker. "I give up" and "toke" don't go together... do they?Isn't that some kind of double unconsantantant proverb or something?Now you could say "I give up"... when they had guns pointed at you. But that would be, "toke"...."I give up".
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Comment #33 posted by whig on April 01, 2007 at 14:05:22 PT
This Is My Message To You
Don't worry bout a thing. Every little thing gonna be alright.
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Comment #32 posted by whig on April 01, 2007 at 14:03:02 PT
Toker00
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnDrbagYm24
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Comment #31 posted by FoM on April 01, 2007 at 11:34:59 PT
Had Enough
I know you have a good heart. I've never doubted that. I am firm because it's my life and when I have done anything in my life I put my heart into it. If corruption or bad things enter that activity I find something that I can help with and make a change and do good. Life's too short to waste.
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Comment #30 posted by Had Enough on April 01, 2007 at 11:30:35 PT
It’s really not my way either,
but there is little choice left. I’m tired of all this stuff, and it time to move on. Hemp can save the world. I feel it is our obligation to mankind to make the world a better place. We don’t need foreign oil, we don’t need to be dealing with communist countries that employ slave labor, there’s a lot of things going on that needn’t be. But it is, and it is all done through “Hook & Crook” on their side.So, I say “Git’R Done” let’s git what we can git, while we can git it, when it comes to this “Drug War”
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Comment #29 posted by FoM on April 01, 2007 at 11:19:59 PT
Had Enough
I understand where you're coming from but it isn't my way. I do not believe that the end ever justifies the means. That's just my value structure and it helps me to live in peace with myself.
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Comment #28 posted by Had Enough on April 01, 2007 at 11:15:29 PT
Yes FoM
Your right it should come from the heart, but politicians are heartless. They follow the money. I’ll take the changes any way we can get them, even if I have to hold my nose while trying to persuade elected officials. They declared a “Drug War” on our own people. I didn’t do it, the “Powers that Were" did it, and the “Powers the Be”, are still doing it. It's time to put our own Powers in Charge. All is fair in War, I’ve heard in the past. I’ll take every inch we can get, and try to turn it into 5 miles.********Opps!!!This was supposed to be included in the last post.The Traveling Willburys "I Won't Back Down" is a RARE video to find, but here it is featuring George Harrison, Tom Petty, Ringo Starr, Jeff Lynn and many more friends.Link againhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YokNQw_eK6Y
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Comment #27 posted by FoM on April 01, 2007 at 11:03:10 PT
Had Enough
Maybe if we can get people involved that don't look at the issue of the drug war the same way it has been looked at for so many years things might change. The way things are is not what I am interested in. I want change but I want change to come from people's heart not what I have seen. This has always been about what is moral to me. Locking up people over Cannabis is immoral is the way I see it.
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Comment #26 posted by Had Enough on April 01, 2007 at 10:57:05 PT
FoM #25
It will happen. Might take a while, but it will be done.Collective wisdom applied in the right places is starting to work.That’s our part, to make sure it’s applied properly, and to remember.We Won’t Back Down, and will stand our ground.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YokNQw_eK6YSpecial thoughts go out to all the Linda & Jerry’s that are out there. We won’t let any of them down.
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Comment #25 posted by FoM on April 01, 2007 at 10:34:38 PT
Had Enough
Thank you. My awakening has been a real mind blower and it makes me wonder if the laws on marijuana will ever be changed at the rate we are going in reform circles.
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Comment #24 posted by Had Enough on April 01, 2007 at 10:24:58 PT
FoM #21
We all get discouraged from time to time. A normal thing.I have witnessed your awakening as time has gone by.Good for you girl. Cool!!!Now Let’s Roll!!!And thanks for putting that link back up. Now even more people might hear the message again.
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Comment #23 posted by museman on April 01, 2007 at 10:17:43 PT
Aquarius
In 1987, on the morning after the 'last night of the nine hells' as prophesied by the Mayan (or was it Aztec -I get 'em mixed up) calendar, the sun came up on the morning of first of Seven Heavens. I witnessed both on Mt. Shasta during the 'Harmonic Convergence' (or 'harmonica convention' as we joked about some of the silliness that went on.)
I knew that morning (how I knew is a story that remains in the 'need to know' dept.) that the dawn of the 'new age' actually happened. Almost 20 years later, at the last Rainbow Gathering, I witnessed the awakening of the infant of our collective, a growing consciousness that though, like an infant is only barely aware of itself, and still very dependant upon our collective choices, is nevertheless a new being on the earth.The efforts that have been literally INSTITUTED to stifle the growth and awareness of our new consciousness have failed to stop it. They have kept us in the dark as much as possible for so long that they do not even know what the 'light' actually is any more, so while they were chasing down their profiles of YSHWH, trying to kill it before it would grow, while they were 'pursuing the woman in the wilderness' (revelation of John) the sacred birthing chamber within us all was prepared, and the child has been born.The beast is all about looking for the individuals who seem to manifest 'christlike' attitudes and actions- so they can eliminate them by the old Roman methods of assasination or imprisonment. Well I'm here to tell you that they missed it! The 'Collective Messiah' or the 'Mytrea' as some have called it has awoken, and no matter if they start Armageddon as a desperate attempt to regain control of the earth and the thought dogmas of their religions and acompanying governments, it's too late for them. Their day is ending.The juggernaut of ancient error is tipping over into the abyss. Those who do not wish to go into the abyss with it, better jump off now.
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Comment #22 posted by Had Enough on April 01, 2007 at 09:49:52 PT
The Fifth Dimension
Aquarius (18th May 1969)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx2IRqBmW2Q&mode=related&search=
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Comment #21 posted by FoM on April 01, 2007 at 09:45:18 PT
Had Enough
Here's the link to the download. I get very discouraged too. I try not to show it too much because I don't want to bring anyone down. Recently my eyes have been opened to more then I ever understood before and it is very discouraging but I will keep on keepin' on and hope that some people who are progressives get on board and help us out. http://4waysite.com/index7.htm
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Comment #20 posted by Had Enough on April 01, 2007 at 09:02:01 PT
WOOF!!! WOOF!!!
Hey Toker00I see and feel that Frustration too. Sometimes Frustration gets confused with Pessimism, and at times they its hard to see the difference between the two. I guess they are “kissing cousins”. I too went down that road you are experiencing with your daily grind, but it happened to me years ago. Abilities to do the job, quality of the work done, have less bearing than “Who can kiss ass the best”. I never have kissed ass very well at all. I took a pass on that. I make a whole lot less dollars now because of it, but at least I’m not hundreds or thousands of miles for months at a time away from my home anymore, priceless.We’ve come along way in the last few years with this cause, and have been effective. Not as much as we all want, but still considering what we are dealing with here, I’d say progress is being made. Remember the Drug Czar comments about medical marijuana, after the Supreme Court ruling. Well look at what’s taken place since then. It’s coming along all right, just too slow of a pace. Our politicians leave a lot to be desired, to say the least.I remember a time when I felt that strong arm of yours reach out to help another. Well take that same strong arm of yours and reach down and pick up “Elvis” Load CSNY’s Toronto Jam, (FoM probably still has the download link somewhere) adjust the tone controls to remove just the right amount of the midrange frequency, crank the volume, and go sit outside with “Elvis”. Now timing is everything too. Start the tunes about an hour before the sun goes down. By the time they reach “Let’s Impeach The President”, the sun will have set, your batteries should be recharged by then, and you should be seeing better, and give Elvis a scratch for me…WOOF!!! WOOF!!! WOOF!!! Dogs, truly mans best friend.
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on March 31, 2007 at 14:02:47 PT
Toker00
Why are you giving up? What's wrong?
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Comment #18 posted by Dankhank on March 31, 2007 at 13:24:40 PT
don't give up ...
Regroup and enfilade ...
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Comment #17 posted by Toker00 on March 31, 2007 at 12:48:56 PT
I give up.
Toke.
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Comment #16 posted by museman on March 31, 2007 at 10:43:35 PT
FoM
Unfortunately, I was easily indoctrinated, easily fooled. It wasn't until I woke up one evening in Norfolk Va, 3500 miles from home on a fools journey -the USN- that the wool began to fall away from my eyes.That wool is pretty damn thick, and if I hadn't a previous experience with the Living Spirit of God -that told me in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS that serving the military (and the creatures that spawned it) was contrary to the Will of God, I might have failed to embrace the new vision that came after I healed from the pain of having a great part of my reality revealed as great error and wrongness.So I understand the thick-headedness of those who uphold lies with more and more lies, even if they aren't aware they have been decieved, and are contributing to the over-all deception. How I wish that more people could get a profound spiritual experience, or even a real epiphany of intellect and understanding, that would allow them to see both the way in which they unwittingly serve the beast, and that the way to serve God is to serve each other.
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Comment #15 posted by FoM on March 31, 2007 at 10:19:08 PT
museman
It would be a good thing for sure. I was so naive that I thought all students were taught that way even if they weren't in a private school. We were told about Nazi Germany and how children were used against the parents to promote the government and that we should remember that as we get older. I never forgot.
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Comment #14 posted by museman on March 31, 2007 at 10:15:12 PT
to whom it may concern
I remove my allegiance to the rag of the corporate states of america, and to the bloody republic for which it stands,
a corrupted nation bereft of God, insensitive, with liberty and justice on sale now at your local bank.
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Comment #13 posted by museman on March 31, 2007 at 10:04:51 PT
FoM
If only the politicians would follow that precept. Mans law IS NOT GODS LAW.
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on March 31, 2007 at 10:00:29 PT
museman
You made me think of what I was taught in Parochial School. We were taught that if we are forced to pick between the government's laws and God's law we must pick God's law even if they would kill us. I agree with that.
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Comment #11 posted by museman on March 31, 2007 at 09:29:32 PT
toker
The 'Luciferian Brigade' has a historical source, as well as mythical. Many of our brothers and sisters have disappeared without a trace when they get to this part. Telling THEM who they are, is pointless, unless you have some suicide wish, but teaching the truth to those who need to know what they are up against is a good idea.In this I refer to what YSHWH said, "Be as harmless as doves, and wise as serpents."This is a subject that has been a large part of my lifes work and understanding, yet though I'd like to proclaim some things from the rooftops, it would be foolish for me to do so...I've already been to the crossroads, and once was enough. I concentrate on the contemporary-real aspects of their power and presence, without concentrating on the historical sources, because the set-up for ridicule, mockery, and disdain is hair-triggered.
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Comment #10 posted by Hope on March 31, 2007 at 09:17:53 PT
Got to go somewhere
and do some primal screaming.It can help a little, sometimes.(I taught my children the value of a primal scream. The first time my son stepped into their bathroom, closed the door, and started screaming at the top of his lungs...my daughter in law didn't know what was happening. Now, she knows it can be a valuable tool in self control.)How can we not hate our government and it's "enforcers" that do things like that? How can we not? I need some Grace right now. A scream. A crying jag and some big time Grace.
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Comment #9 posted by Hope on March 31, 2007 at 09:10:13 PT
Hooded sweatshirt
Can I ever put my hands in the pockets of a sweatshirt again without thinking of Derek Hale and what happened to him on those front steps?Derek Hale. Another name to remember in this war. Death squads took him down, innocent and unarmed, while he sat on his door steps.We paid the scum's salary that did this, with hard earned tax money that was just ripped from our pockets. This story should never be forgotten.
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on March 31, 2007 at 09:03:45 PT
Don't ever forget this face.
http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2007/03/death-squad-in-delaware-case-of.html
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on March 31, 2007 at 08:58:34 PT
Wayne Comment 2
I read that yestereday. It's so sickening. I can't get it out of my mind.It makes hatred boil and bubble in my soul. Why isn't the whole world outraged? This is so bad. Man, if I was as big as God...I'd want to shake that killer by the nape of the neck till all his badges and weapons just flew away from him and let him be seen for the naked, weak, nasty little murderer that he is.
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Comment #6 posted by Hope on March 31, 2007 at 08:48:24 PT
Save that insult, Toker...
for the "Adeiu" message, when they've definitely denied the truth of your message. A parting shot?
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on March 31, 2007 at 08:45:20 PT
Toker....maybe not a good idea.
"Tell them they are being used by descendants of Lucifer."There's bound to be a better way than that. Telling them that will fire them up against you. They'd just categorize you as some crazy street preacher. Don't do that.
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Comment #4 posted by Richard Zuckerman on March 31, 2007 at 08:30:57 PT:
CALL CONGRESS TO STOP "NORTH AMERICAN UNION"?
The Council On Foreign Relations has scheduled 2010 as the target year to implement their "North American Union", SPP, which would eliminate our international borders. If you believe you have problems NOW, wait until they repeal our constitutions!!! You will be complaining about alot more than Marijuana prohibition, people!!! Call Congress on their toll free telephone number, (866) 340-9281, and VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION AGAINST THE "NORTH AMERICAN UNION", AMNESTY OF "UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS", for the reasons described by www.fairus.org, www.ccir.net, www.thenewamerican.com, BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!! LET'S PUT THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE NOW, PEOPLE, BEFORE CONGRESS VOTES VERY SOON ON THESE BILLS????!!! Believe me, people, the "North American Union" will ONLY BENEFIT THE WORLD'S WEALTHIEST PEOPLE!! IT WOULD SINK OUR ECONOMY AND WE'D LOSE OUR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS!!! Public schools and major media are not talking about it because they are controlled by Rupert Murdoch and the U.S. intelligence agencies!!! Log onto www.brasschecktv.com, urnotfree.com, www.infowars.com, www.prisonplanet.com, and get the education that public schools and major media has not told you!!! Then Call Congress!!!
Richard Paul Zuckerman.
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Comment #3 posted by Toker00 on March 31, 2007 at 04:15:05 PT
Wayne
Do you think we need to start talking to our Police and Firemen and Military family members about what they are doing, Under God? Those who have family members in these tools of power need to get the Truth to them. We were not meant to live as slaves. We are all Brothers and Sisters who have been lead astray from God and Nature by those intent from day one to cause havoc and chaos on Earth. Tell them they are being used by descendants of Lucifer. Wake them up to the Truth of Life! They are defending the wrong God. Only when our Men of Peace, our Men of Rescue, our Men of Righteousness and our Men of Government wake up, do we stand a chance of release from this Luciferian Brigade. Toke.
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Comment #2 posted by Wayne on March 30, 2007 at 14:27:15 PT
OT: Another wrongful death
This one at the hands of the Wilmington, DE po-lice dept. Apparently this happened last November, I never heard about it. The family of the victim has just filed a lawsuit against the WPD.His name was Derek Hale, he was an Iraq War veteran Marine, and a member of a motorcycle club. The police thought he had something to do with drugs, but didn't have any evidence. They tasered him and then blew him away. He never had a chance. Absolutely heart-wrenching...
Delaware Online
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Comment #1 posted by museman on March 30, 2007 at 12:05:56 PT
history
"In the past, several ballot measures have asked Oregonians if they want to make marijuana legal. They have been fringe-led efforts and ill-conceived. They all failed because they lacked the state’s imprimatur."I was here for all of those, OMI was ill-funded, and very loosely organized, but even with those limitations it was able at leat twice to gather an abundant amount of signatures for the ballot. However there was a Reagan appointee at the head of the state (I forget her name, and don't care to be reminded) ballot commision, who -twice- threw out hundreds of thousands of signatures, saying that one or two 'bogus signatures' (invalid) on a page was cause to throw out the entire petition.People tried to contest it, but the courts wouldn't even let them in.Ted K. is corporate ass-kisser from way back. The only reason he got elected was the other candidate who was a real repug loser who made you shudder just to look at him.Why do they say erroneous things about peoples extraordinary efforts to create a better society? Because they all had long hair, drove around in buses and vans, and most importantly; had no banks to back them.
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